The Living Bucentaur: A School Procession

On September 8, more than 250 members of the MIT School of Architecture and Planning community took part in The Living Bucentaur, a processional artwork marking the school’s move into the Metropolitan Storage Warehouse.

Conceived and directed by Professor Azra Akšamija and developed with students, faculty, and staff across SA+P, the procession reimagined a tradition from MIT’s history. In 1916, students built a ceremonial barge — a “Bucentaur” — to mark MIT’s move from Boston to Cambridge. More than a century later, the SA+P community transformed the vessel into a living procession: people became the boat, walking its silhouette from Lobby 7 to the MET Warehouse.

Along the way were bubble makers, jellyfish, water drummers, Carnyx horns, angels, and book clappers, with costumes and props made in part from upcycled sails donated by New England sailmakers.

A new short film, The Living Bucentaur: A School Procession, documents the making of the work and the journey to the MET.

Credits

THE LIVING BUCENTAUR

Project initiation: Azra Akšamija and Hashim Sarkis
Artistic concept and direction: Azra Akšamija
Building on the MIT100 Bucentaur tradition initiated by John Ochsendorf

Student leads: Marc Armeña, Kaelyn Bowers, Maciej Dzumala, Valeria Duenas, Ya Gao, Alexandros Gravalos, and Isabel (Izzi) Waitz

Staff leads: Gearóid Dolan, Mehves Lelic, Charles (Chuck) Morris, Monica Orta, Sophie Tamm, Graham Yeager, Sara Yohannes, and Adélaïde Zollinger

The Living Bucentaur was made possible by more than 250 participants and makers from across SA+P, who created costumes and props for the procession, as well as the staff and faculty who moved their units into the MET and readied the school’s new home.

With contributions from the MIT Museum, Dean’s Office and School Council, MET Commons Committee, MIT Museum, North Sails, Doyle Sails, and Piers Park Sailing Center.

THE LIVING BUCENTAUR FILM

Direction: Adélaïde Zollinger

Camera: Bruce Petschek, Lynne Weisman, Trevor Chamberlain, Ian Fein, and Charles River Media

Drone: Emily Dahl

Additional images: Azra Akšamija, Heidi Erickson, Dante McPherson, North Sails, Panfoto, and 1st Photo Booth

Archival imagery courtesy of the MIT Museum

Editing: Bruce Petschek

Review: Dante McPherson